Gorgeous toys. And everything makes so much sense that I feel I should have figured it out years ago. That part about the need to continue exporting toys to get foreign currency was an interesting bonus. Thanks again.
I assume "suicide" is the one that's kind of close because smoke inhalation would be too natural and this is a riddle.
So to tweak it a little I will ask if it was murder-suicide.
Congrats! Great news.
Johnny Appleseed of Rolley Hole
p.s., you'll have to let us know some of the highlights of your new park. I'm sure you'll love it too.
No marbles were shown. It was only text in a 1907 trade journal. The racism on that page is breathtaking and heartbreaking. Here's the part about marbles.
Here's the whole link:
Mixer and Server - Google Books
Also, for what it's worth, I have a 1907 article mentioning Japanese marbles. But it's a very racist. I don't even like to share it. No company was mentioned. The marbles would probably have been handmade.
Also, the marbles in the machine in this 1929 ad looked Japanese to me. But it's a very small photo and no information to go on besides the ad date. There were similar American marbles made, but not in 1929 as far as I know.